Here we are, my dear Octavia, at Mrs. Carter’s Boarding House, and tho’ we have endeavored to keep ourselves as much out of the way as possible, a great many people have called to pay their respects to Mr. and Mrs. Bowne. The first person we met driving thro’ Salem was Mr. _Lee_ just coming in town; he bowed very low and pass’d. We went to a public house and had not been there 3 minutes before Mr. Lee came in determined to be the first to call on us; he shook hands very cordially, congratulated us, and went with us up to Ellen’s. We promised to drive with Ellen, and went to see Mrs. H. Derby; spent a charming hour and returned to Ellen’s, dined, and all went to Lucy Derby’s to tea, Mr. Lee and a dozen others. Mr. Bowne and myself called on Mrs. Grey, and after a very pleasant day returned to Ellen’s and stayed the night, and the next morning, which was Wednesday, came into Boston,—’twas _election day_ and all the world was in motion. I could not bear to come to Mrs. Carter’s, but Mr. Bowne thought he ought to. Mr. Lee got to Boston as soon as we did and came immediately to see us and offer his services; he has been here again this morning and is going to ride into the country with us to show us some fine seats. Doctor Boice, Mr. Davis, Mr. Cabot, Charles Bradbury, Tom Coffin and a dozen other gentlemen, whose names I have forgot, and who came with the Miss Lowells and Miss Russells. We have prevented all invitations on, by constantly saying we were going out of town immediately. Mr. Lee insisted, when I expressed a wish to see Miss _Wyre_, on letting her know I was in town,—he went and she came immediately back. I was very glad to see her and she appeared so herself at seeing me. Some ladies and gentlemen came in; and after they were gone, Alicia, Mr. B. and myself went a-shopping;—the fashions for bonnets, Octavia, are very ugly; Alicia had a large, white glazed cambric one made without pasteboard. But I have not told you how Gen. Knox[43] found us out at Newburyport. We always kept by ourselves, but in passing the entry Gen’l Knox, who had just come in the stage, met Mr. B. and asked where he was from—(Mr. Bowne kept here with Mrs. Carter when Gen’l Knox was here last winter); he told him from the Eastward.—Alone?—no.—Who is with you?—_Mrs. Bowne._ So plump a question he could not evade, so the General insisted on being introduced to the bride. I was walking the room and reading, perfectly unsuspicious, when the opening of the door and Mr. Bowne’s voice—“Gen’l Knox, my love,” quite roused me; he came up, took my hand very gracefully, pres’t it to his lips and begged leave to congratulate me on the event that had lately taken place. After a few minutes’ conversation—“And pray, sir,” said he, turning to Mr. Bowne—“when did this happy event take place?” I felt my face glow, but Mr. Bowne, always delicate and collected, said—“’Tis not a fortnight